As CMS journeys toward value-based care, we have seen significant changes in how data is collected. While the hospice industry has been late to the game, they are catching up! In hopes of improving the quality of care provided to hospice patients and their families, CMS added a standardized data collection tool in 2014. This tool, the HIS (Hospice Item Set), has been utilized by CMS for over ten years to capture patient data at admission and discharge. Hospice agencies are required to submit ...
In the fall of every year the home health industry waits in anticipation as CMS prepares to publish the Final Rules for the next year. Thankfully, in the summer, CMS does provide a prequel and an opportunity for the industry to submit comments related to the proposed changes. We are currently in that comment period. CMS published the 2026 Proposed Rules in the Federal Register recently and along with PDGM and payment rate changes, a significant proposed change revolves around the face-to-face...
Home health and hospice agencies may be eligible for certain waivers and flexibilities if their agency operates in affected disaster areas of Texas. In response to the 2025 Texas severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding, the Secretary of Health and Human Services declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) effective July 2, 2025 and CMS has waivers available for Texas health care providers in the affected counties. These waivers and other flexibilities are in effect through the end ...
Compliance programs are often an area of confusion for home health and hospice agencies. A compliance program may be required, or it may be voluntary, dependent on organization requirements, and/or accrediting organization standards. For those that have a choice, many wonder, “Since it is required that we be compliant with Medicare and Medicaid regulations and other federal laws like the False Claims Act, why is a compliance program voluntary?” HCL has answered below several frequently asked ...